Attention budget-conscious carnivores: Aldi has you covered with its bountiful meat selection, but there are certain unhealthy and untasty options that you better avoid.
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00:00Attention, budget-conscious carnivores! Aldi has you covered with its bountiful meat selection,
00:06but there are certain unhealthy and untasty options that you better avoid.
00:11Although Aldi's regular chicken breasts are reasonably priced, they're not the best when
00:15it comes to taste or quality. They might be okay enough to feed a crowd in a pinch if
00:19they're sufficiently masked with other ingredients in certain dishes, but they're not ideal for
00:24serving on their own as a main course. Simply put, they're chewy and insufficiently moist
00:29no matter how you cook them.
00:31It's also hard to ignore the problems with conventionally-raised chicken products. Researchers
00:35are continuing to question the effects of antibiotic use on chickens and the health
00:39effects they have on people who eat poultry. Even if you're not terribly concerned about
00:43that issue, there are other benefits to choosing more naturally-raised chicken products, including
00:48higher levels of important nutrients like omega fatty acids.
00:52As far as meat options go, hot dogs are certainly one of the cheapest, especially at Aldi. But
00:58they come at the price of what's inside. While research is still learning more about processed
01:02meat and its impact on our health, there is clearly a correlation between the regular
01:06intake of processed meats and health problems like cancer and heart disease. Many brands
01:11have stepped up to create hot dogs that are more natural without nitrates and other questionable
01:15ingredients.
01:16But alas, Aldi falls short in this category, as its selection is rather limited to conventional
01:22brands that are a mixture of mechanically-separated chicken and pork. Depending on which Aldi
01:27location you visit, there are occasionally organic uncured beef hot dogs, but the availability
01:32is hit or miss. Plus, there's not a ton of versatility when it comes to the types of
01:36meals you can make with hot dogs.
01:39There is some debate about whether or not pork is a healthy protein option, but in the
01:43grand scheme of meat consumption, it's actually a great choice. It's high in nutrients like
01:48B vitamins and iron, and can also be beneficial for muscle health. However, Aldi's pork chops
01:53are a little less than ideal.
01:54The chain offers many different types of cuts of pork chops, but none are super flavorful,
02:03and they also tend to be dry, making them chewy and difficult to cut through. Plus,
02:07it can be confusing to determine the level of quality based on the labels alone. They
02:12mention that they're a product of the USA, but they don't state anything about them being
02:16all-natural or free from things like preservatives, antibiotics, added hormones, or other factors.
02:23Located in a number of varieties including Italian, bratwurst, and maple breakfast slinks,
02:28Aldi's sausage selection might look wholesome at first glance, but what's really inside
02:32each one remains questionable. Labeled as a premium cut of pork, it's a mystery as to
02:37what that statement actually means. We can probably deduce that the pork that Aldi uses
02:42is from conventionally raised animals based on the lack of mention otherwise. Pigs in
02:46this situation are typically given antibiotics and are fed low-quality diets, which ultimately
02:52results in fewer nutrients and less flavor. Not only are these sausages on the bland side,
02:57but there are also a plethora of fillers and other ingredients that generate more questions
03:01than answers. For example, it states right on the label that the sausage contains BHA
03:07and propyl gallite, which are two synthetic antioxidant chemicals used to preserve and
03:11protect flavor.
03:13Every variety of Aldi bacon leaves way too much to be desired. Whether you buy the Never
03:18Any all-natural offering or the regular option that claims to be thick cut, each one is so
03:22thin that it might make you wonder if you're eating bacon-flavored paper rather than actual
03:27bacon. In fact, just getting the strips out of the package and separated onto a skillet
03:32without any of them falling apart is a challenge. If that's not reason enough to buy your bacon
03:36somewhere else, then consider the nutritional value or lack thereof. No matter what kind
03:41you get, bacon is still highly processed. Even if you choose to splurge on the Never
03:46Any variety, which is free from preservatives like nitrates and sulfates. Plus, bacon is
03:51one of the more cholesterol- and sodium-heavy protein choices, with very little healthy
03:55fats or protein to make up for it.
03:57No, I want my bacon, I gotta tell you something. Bacon is good for me.
04:04You can tell pretty quickly after your first bite that all of Aldi's deli meat is pre-packaged
04:08and not sliced fresh on sight. Pre-packaged deli meat already has the tendency to be on
04:13the thin side, and Aldi's varieties are no exception. If you're someone who has trouble
04:17with texture, it's undoubtedly best to steer clear, since a lot of the chain's deli meat
04:22gets slimy after sitting inside a plastic package with water for an extended period
04:26of time.
04:27Between the average taste and the highly processed quality, there's little about Aldi's deli
04:31meat that's worth recommending other than the fact that it's convenient. Every once
04:35in a while, your local store might have organic deli meat in stock, but the choices are rather
04:39limited, and they usually sell out soon after hitting the shelves.
04:44Turkey is known for being super dry, which is why brining and basting is such a vital
04:48process to any Thanksgiving preparation. But it's not just a whole turkey that you have
04:52to worry about cooking correctly. All forms of this bird, including ground turkey, tend
04:57to be on the dry side. Aldi's ground turkey deserves credit for being all-natural, but
05:01it's not enough to justify a purchase. Sure, the price tag is lower than its fresh counterparts,
05:07but it's not worth the savings and convenience when all you have to look forward to is something
05:10that lacks flavor and moisture, no matter how you cook it.
05:13You guys, I see one! I see a turkey! Shoot it! Shoot it!
05:17Now that we've gotten the Aldi meats that are a no-go out of the way, let's move on
05:20to some that are actually worth buying.
05:23Ground beef is extremely versatile and can be used to make a variety of tasty meals.
05:28While many people opt for conventional ground beef over grass-fed to maintain their budgets,
05:32they thankfully don't have to make that compromise at Aldi. And that's great news, considering
05:37that grass-fed beef has been shown to be higher in certain nutrients than regular beef.
05:41When it comes to grass-fed ground beef at Aldi, you have two choices — 85% lean and
05:4615% fat, or 93% lean and 7% fat. Overall, both options are generally cheaper than grass-fed
05:53options at other stores.
05:55It's also worth noting that the 85% lean option is the cheaper of the two, so it's worth it
06:00if you can stomach the extra fat. Also, keep in mind that more fat equals more flavor,
06:05so you'll be saving money on a better-tasting pound of beef.
06:09If you want to make the most out of your dollar, Aldi's Organic Whole Chicken is a winner for
06:13its flavor, quality, and versatility. By using all parts of the bird from start to finish,
06:19you'll be able to make multiple meals out of just one purchase. You can roast the chicken
06:23for dinner, and then there will be plenty of leftovers to make sandwiches, soups, or
06:27whatever else suits your taste buds.
06:29Once all the meat has been eaten, you can use the bones to make some homemade nutrient-dense
06:33bone broth for sipping or to use as the base for soups. This is also a gut-healthy option,
06:39and plenty of research has touted the importance of a healthy gut for overall well-being.
06:43You've got to take things really slow when it comes to your bowels.
06:47Seafood is notoriously one of the pricier protein options in the grocery store, and
06:52if you opt for the wild-caught variety, you can usually expect to pay top dollar. However,
06:57Aldi's tuna steaks come at a shockingly reasonable price, likely due to the fact that they arrive
07:02frozen, which cuts down on shipping costs, and those savings are passed on to shoppers.
07:07Each package contains approximately three to four steaks that are perfect for a single
07:11meal for two or multiple meals for an individual. These steaks also defrost quickly, so you
07:16can keep them on hand as a last-minute healthy option. Most importantly, this seafood meets
07:21all of the qualifications that a high-quality tuna steak should, and like the overpoweringly
07:26fishy taste that can be synonymous with cheap tuna, Aldi's tuna steaks taste light and
07:31fresh. They also have a deep pink to red color without any brown spots or discoloration,
07:36which is a sure sign that this fish has been handled properly.
07:40Since Aldi's grass-fed steak comes in a pack of two, you can feed two people for the
07:44same price as one grass-fed steak at other grocery stores. So instead of dropping money
07:48on a dinner out, you can have a date night in without blowing your budget.
07:53Aldi sometimes has a few different options for cuts, but the New York Strip is what's
07:56regularly kept in stock. The chain steaks are also 100% grass-fed and grass-finished,
08:02which is important to note, since not every grass-fed product is also grass-finished.
08:06The reality is that some producers still end up feeding grass-fed cows artificial diets
08:11of grain and soy towards the end of their lives to try to fatten them up and give their
08:15end product a boost. That's why it's essential to understand what certain terms mean on your
08:20labels if you care to know. And thankfully, for those who do care, Aldi ensures that its
08:25grass-fed beef is truly grass-fed, from start to finish.
08:29Aldi's organic chicken breasts are comparable in price to most other grocery stores. But
08:34unlike their lower-quality counterparts, these organic breasts have a great taste and texture
08:39that's not chewy or stringy. Even better news is that they come from free-range chickens
08:44that have outdoor access and are raised humanely. Most packages even have a farm code on the
08:49back of the package, allowing you to look up exactly where your chicken came from.
08:53Now that's farm-to-table!
08:54They do a lot to make sure that their chickens are very happy.
08:59After you buy them, just throw these chicken breasts in a slow cooker to cook, shred, and
09:04use throughout the week as the protein of choice in various recipes. Any sort of meat
09:08that can be easily added to different dishes can be a game-changer for your budget, as
09:13adaptability translates into savings.
09:16The frozen aisle is probably not the first place you'd think to look for high-quality
09:20seafood, but Aldi might change your mind about that. Simply put, the frozen wild-caught salmon
09:25fillets are not to be missed. It's a common myth that fresh seafood is always better than
09:29frozen, but in reality, the latter can sometimes be better since it's frozen right away at
09:34peak freshness, especially if it's vacuum-sealed like each one of the fillets in this Aldi
09:39package.
09:40Another benefit is that you can use as much or as little of the package as you'd like,
09:44which can save you money over time and help to avoid food waste. But how does the salmon
09:49stack up in terms of flavor? Without any of the strong fishy taste or pungent smell, these
09:54fillets hold their own among the best of them. And if you're looking for the most nutritional
09:58value for your money, salmon is known to be high in omega fats that are necessary for
10:03optimal brain and hormone health.
10:06Aldi's Never Any Chicken thighs are comparably priced to similar options at other grocery
10:10stores. And unlike some poultry thighs that still have the bone inside, these are deboned
10:15so you get even more meat for your money per pound. Plus, they're not overly fatty, so
10:20you don't have to spend any extra time and effort prepping the meat and trimming away
10:23fat before cooking. Instead, they have just the right flavor ratio of fat to protein.
10:29Since chicken thighs naturally have more fat than other cuts like breasts, they're more
10:33flavorful and moist. Now, perhaps you're concerned about the fact that Aldi's chicken thighs
10:38aren't free-range like their organic counterparts. But fortunately, they are still free of antibiotics
10:43and added hormones.